Russia and North Korea Open First Road Bridge Across Shared Border

Sep. 7, 2026 North Korean trucks drive along the newly inaugurated Novichenko bridge. @kozhemiakoofficial / Telegram Russia and North Korea opened the first road bridge linking the two countries on Monday, coming after months of construction delays. Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin and North Korean Premier Pak Thae Song presided over a ceremony via video link to mark the official launch of traffic along the two-lane bridge, which stretches one kilometer (0.6 miles) over the Tumen River. Mishustin hailed bilateral relations as being at an “unprecedentedly high level of comprehensive strategic partnership,” adding that the bridge, which cost 9 billion rubles ($104 million), would boost trade and tourism. A rail bridge, built in the 1950s, already connects the two countries. The new road bridge is named after Yakov Novichenko, a Soviet officer who saved North Korean founder Kim Il Sung by shielding him from a grenade explosion in Pyongyang in 1946. Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un signed the formal construction agreement during a 2024 summit in Pyongyang. Work on the bridge began in April 2025. North Korea completed its section ahead of a planned June 19, 2026 deadline, while construction delays on the Russian side pushed the opening back by several months. According to news agency Interfax, the bridge and its newly constructed border checkpoint, which connects the Far East Primorye region with North Korea, are designed to process up to 300 vehicles and 2,300 people daily. Some observers have said that the bridge will provide Russia and North Korea an additional route through which they can discreetly move military cargo and personnel. In 2025, North Korea’s shipments of rocket artillery, shells and short-range ballistic missiles to Russia were estimated to be between $7 billion and $13.8 billion, according to the Institute for National Security Strategy, a government-funded research institute in South Korea. Russia and North Korea have deepened military ties since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. In 2024, the two countries signed a mutual defense treaty that requires them to provide military support if either is attacked. Read more about: North Korea , Far East , Primorye Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Major Power Outage Hits Far East Russia The Far Eastern Distribution Grid Company DRSK said the outages were linked to “equipment failure” at one of the units of the Primorskaya thermal power... 1 Min read N. Korea's Kim Wraps Up Russia Trip With 'Heartfelt Thanks' to Putin Kim Jong Un's tour of Russia's Far East sparked concerns in the West that Pyongyang could provide Moscow with weapons for its war in Ukraine. 2 Min read North Korea’s Kim Tours Russian Fighter Jet Plant The Gagarin plant, which is under U.S. sanctions, gave the North Korean leader a tour of Su-35 and Su-57 fighter jet assembly workshops. 2 Min read Flash Floods Cause Major Power Outage in Far East Russia A total of 70,000 out of the 600,000 residents of Vladivostok were left without electricity over an eight-hour period, said local authorities. 1 Min read